The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-03-24

l.
the patriotism of Greece and i
But / must declare and
avow, that in the master States of
the world, l know not the body or
who, in such a complica-
ton of difficult circumstances, can
stand in preference to the Delegates
of America, assembled in general
congress at Philadelphia. Peytop
Randolph was President, Charles
Thompson was Secretary. The
names of some of the honored men
who composed that congress were
Sam'l Adams, John Adams, Roger
Sherman, Silas Dean, John JAY,
Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry
Lee, George Washington, Patrick
Henry and Henry Rutlidge. And
in this congress they issued a pro-
test against standing armies among
them without their consent, and
agreed to hold no intercourse with
Great Britain. The people were
ripe for Liberty" The bitter feel,
ing,had aroused. their %oppressors
and kindled a desire for independ-
ence. They were making prepara-
lions for wal as fast as they could
companies of militiamen were
formed throughout the colonies
men who were ready to fight at a
minutes warming; and the second
congress voted to raise an army OF
10000 men and appointed George
Washington as commander-ln-
chief, which was organized imme-
diately and drilled as good as cir
cumstances would permit for ac-
tive service.
During the first year of the war
there were several instances in
which patriotism was very conspic-
uously displayed and many acts of
heroism was manifested by the
honored soldiers whose names shall
ever be fresh in the mind of the
nation. Not only the first year,
but throughout the war, the trials
and troubles that they had to en-
counter we're constant and hume
rous. While speaking of the first
year of the war, we will take fol
instance the battle of Lexington.
and think of the enthusiastic spirit
that was manifested, fought with
unlimited determination, and afte'
the battle, the general feeling thai
: existed throughout the colonies
There were 80 towns and villages
that had heard the news of the frs
engagement and responded to thu
:, call. Their country had called
: them, The public sentiment hae
aroused them, and they were will
ing to bleed for the sake of thei.
! country. Old, gray haired mel
with one foot in the grave, showed
their willingness to defend thei
cause and to fight in the ranks o
! their juniors. Another event O
:, this year was that of the capture o
Ticonderoga and Crown Point
!, Ticonderoga was taken by Ethan
= Allen, who demanded the surren
:. der in the name of the Great Jeho
) vall and the Continental Congress
although the Continental Con
= gress had not convened. Allen an
his Green Mountain boys were no
: as the poem goes, "warriors of trutl
: in the ranks of the Free" but wer
warriors of determined will in tn
, ranks of the oppressed. There wa
= something peculiar about the bal
:. ties of the Revolutionary War, an
J that was this-their defeat had tn
y effects of victory. The British ha
larger armies and better drillc
u troops, but they were so demora
: lied after an engagement, althoug
= being successful, they suffere
- greater than the Americans.
: The different nations at first wei
: afraid to acknowledge the indie
: pendence of the United States, a
le though sympathizing with thel
=, = from the very beginning. Franc
10 10 found means by which she coul
, aid the Americans secretly, unit
l. she was convinced that we woul
&c gain our independence. After tt
10 defeat of Burgoyne, France a
y, knowledged the independence {
~ the United States, and the follow
ing spring sent troops to aid tt
: cause. Holland acknowledged til
independence in 1882, Sweden j
% February, 1888; Denmark in tt
- same month; Spain in March
- Russia in July.
Concluded neat Ueek.